Closings

Severe Weather

License plates Mass. won't let you have

Thousands of drivers across the state of Massachusetts have vanity license plates on their vehicle.

Most combinations don't draw the attention of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, but we recently scanned their rejection list to see what combinations have been denied.

The registry has a number of rules in place for anyone who wants a vanity plate for their vehicle.

1. All vanity plates must start with at least two letters.

2. Vehicle vanity plates may contain a maximum of six characters (letters or numbers) and a minimum of two characters.

3. Numbers cannot be used in the middle of a plate; they must come at the end. For example, AAA222 would be an acceptable Passenger vanity plate; AAA22A would not be acceptable.

4. The first number used cannot be a "0."

5. The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled. For example, "LQQK" would not be an acceptable registration number because it is not a correctly spelled word.

6. No periods, spaces, or punctuation marks are allowed.

With all those exceptions in mind, here is a look at the plates the Registrar has denied or rejected. In each case, we will attempt to break down what the plate stands for - and why it was rejected.

Rejected: ADIDAS

Registry's reason: NOT A YEAR

Keep in mind, the letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.

Rejected: AGIFT

Registry's reason: The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.

Rejected: AUTSM

Registry's reason: DEROGATORY

The Registrar will reject any plate that has a combination of letters that is an expression of contempt, ridicule, or superiority of a race, religion, deity, ethnicheritage, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or political affiliation.

Rejected: BAGIT

Registry's reason: the Registry may have considered the combination vulgar in that it is in poor taste.

Rejected: BEAR05

Registry's reason: INCORRECT FORMAT - The first digit cannot be a zero.

Rejected: BIG1

Registry's reason: DENIED/OFFENSIVE - The Registrar will not knowingly issue a requested Vanity registration plate containing a group of letters or combination of numbers and letters if the plate is either offensive. In this case, the combination was likely considered obscene.

Rejected: BIRD03

Registry's reason: The first digit in a custom plate cannot be a zero.

Rejected: BONG

Registry's reason: OFFENSIVE

Rejected: BTME (Bite me)

Registry's reason: PROFANE

The Registry has also denied the similar combination BTEME.

Rejected: BU08

Registry's reason: INCORRECT FORMAT (A zero cannot be the first number used. In addition, the letter "U" can only be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.

Rejected: BUD05

Registry's reason: INCORRECT FORMAT (First digit can't be a zero)

Rejected: BUMS

Registry's reason: DENIED

Rejected: CQQL06 (Cool06)

Registry's reason: DENIED - INCORRECT FORMAT (The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled. In addition, the first numerical digit cannot be a zero.)

Rejected: CQQLCR

Registry's reason: DENIED - The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.

Rejected: DAD001

Registry's reason: INCORRECT FORMAT (First digit can't be a zero)

Rejected: DEVILS

Registry's reason: VIOLENT

Rejected: DINKYS

Registry's reason: Offensive. (The term DINKY refers to "Dual Income, No Kids Yet")

Rejected: DMBPIG

Registry's reason: Denied (The registry can deny a plate considered to be in poor taste)

Rejected: DOC666

Registry's reason: DENIED - RELIGIOUS

Rejected: ENFCER (Enforcer)

Registry's reason: DENIED. The registry can deny combinations that are an expression of “fighting words” designed to inflame passions and possibly lead to a violent confrontation

Rejected: EXIT00

Registry's reason: DENIED - INCORRECT FORMAT (The first numerical digit in a plate cannot be a zero)

Registry's reason: DENIED (Several variations of this plate were also denied. The plate likely falls under "fighting words" prohibition.

Rejected: GODLIV

Registry's reason: DENIED - The registry will deny a plate combination that is an expression of contempt, ridicule, or superiority of a race, religion, deity, ethnic heritage, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or political affiliation

Rejected: GONZO

Registry's reason: DENIED

Rejected: GOTGUN

Registry's reason: Offensive

Rejected: GQQD

Registry's reason: INCORRECT FORMAT (The letter Q can only be used with a correctly spelled word)

Rejected: HATEM2 (Hate me too)

Registry's reason: DENIED - OFFENSIVE

Rejected: HOKIE1

Registry's reason: DENIED (A word made up in a cheer at Virginia Tech)

Rejected: ICANDI (Eye Candy)

Registry's reason: PROFANE

Rejected: IKEELU (I kill you)

Registry's reason: DENIED (The registry will deny an expression of “fighting words” designed to inflame passions and possibly lead to a violent confrontation)

Rejected: IT4U

Registry's reason: DENIED - PLATE FORMAT (The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.)

Rejected: JAKDUP (Jacked up)

Registry's reason: OBSCENE

Rejected: JERKS

Registry's reason: DENIED - OFFENSIVE

Rejected: JEZUS

Registry's reason: DENIED (The Registry will deny any combination that is a expression of contempt, ridicule, or superiority of a race, religion, deity, ethnic heritage, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or political affiliation.)

Rejected: JK04 (Just Kidding)

Registry's reason: DENIED - FORMAT (The first digit in a plate cannot be a zero)

Rejected: JUICEY

Registry's reason: PROFANE

Rejected: KIM708

Registry's reason: DENIED

Rejected: LDYFOX

Registry's reason: PROFANE

Rejected: LETHAL

Registry's reason: VIOLENT

Rejected: LQQKIN

Registry's reason: DENIED - WRONG FORMAT

Rejected: METHYL

Registry's reason: DENIED

Rejected: MOJOHD

Registry's reason: DENIED (The letters "I," "O," "Q," and "U" can ONLY be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.)